Patriots Beat: Preseason finale is final exam time

To not play was the best reward on this night. For players like Tim Tebow, scratching and clawing to make the Patriots' 53-man roster, Thursday night was the final test in a summer full of them. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Patriots’ regulars, safe in their jobs, were to be absent from play.

By Tim Whelan Jr./Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Tim Whelan Jr./Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 30, 2013 at 7:55 PM

By Tim Whelan Jr./Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 30, 2013 at 7:55 PM

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To not play was the best reward on this night.

For the Patriots inclined, heads may have been more focused on a certain article from a certain magazine than the action inside Gillette Stadium Thursday night.

There was, however, a preseason game between the preseason Patriots and the New York preseason Giants. With real uniforms and everything. Tom Brady was in his, but with his helmet off, watching as the understudies beat the Giants, 28-20.

It was the kind of night that Ryan Mallett took all of the Patriots’ snaps from behind center in the first half, finishing 10-for-16 for 117 yards, a TD and an INT, and stretching the Patriots’ streak of Tim Tebow-less preseason minutes to 90.

Alas, Tebow came out to start the second half with the Patriots ahead, 14-10. These were possibly his last snaps as a preseason Patriot, but little news in regards to the left-handed cultural phenomenon would surprise at this point. He actually ended up with a better passer rating than Mallett (83.7 to Mallett’s 79.4), but it was the kind of feast or famine we’ve grown accustomed to. He finished 6-for-11 for 91 yards and two TDs to Quintin Sims, plus an interception while he was sacked four times. He also ran six times for 30 yards.

“Me and Tim, we pretty much all training camp have been working together,” said Sims, a rookie out of Tennessee-Martin whose chances of making the team are slim. “I’ve made plays for him and he makes good throws for me, so we got good chemistry.”

Of course, Tebow’s throws to Sims – one a 52-yarder of the catch-and-run variety, and one a 9-yard lob – could have been a parting gift for the QB. Or they may have saved his job.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Tebow said, “and be able to enjoy playing this game tonight and come in here ready to work tomorrow.”

For players like Tebow, scratching and clawing to make the 53-man roster, Thursday night was the final test in a summer full of them. When the bulk of the Patriots’ regulars appeared to be absent from play, certain veterans taking the field caught the eye. That didn’t bother eight-year Leon Washington, who saw his fair share of action.

“Early in the preseason, I didn’t get much of a chance to get in the games,” said Washington. “So to get an opportunity to play, that’s pretty cool.”

On defense, the Patriots started a group of young players who, for the most part, will likely have trouble sleeping on Friday night in anticipation of what could be coming down over the next two days.

But 13-year veteran Adrian Wilson was among that group.

Adrian Wilson?

Page 2 of 3 - The five-time Pro Bowler and former leader of an Arizona Cardinals team that came within moments of winning a Super Bowl, Wilson is firmly on the roster bubble.

At least, that was the indication as he played a lion’s share of defensive snaps on a night when the Patriots’ regulars could be seen helmetless on the sideline.

But not Wilson. He’s getting the John Lynch treatment. Lynch, a veteran of 15 NFL seasons, played preseason with New England in 2008 before being released on Sept. 1 of that year. He never played again.

Wilson’s fate is in the hands of Belichick and Nick Caserio. The roster has to be at 53 players by 6 p.m. on Saturday. He’s not alone in his angst. Running back Brandon Bolden didn’t dress on Thursday. Tight end Daniel Fells was playing late in the game. Washington, signed in the offseason from Seattle, made his biggest play of the preseason with a 43-yard punt return in the second quarter.

“We’ve been trying to fight for field position all preseason long, trying to get some returns going,” Washington said. “It was good to set up a TD drive.”

Still, his spot is far from guaranteed. He feels he’s done everything he could, though.

“I think I performed pretty well in practice, going hard each and every day,” Washington said. “Being healthy, that’s a big key. And helping my teammates out, too. I think the (preseason) went pretty good.”

He also had one catch for seven yards and three rushes for nine yards. It was nice to see him get looks out of the backfield, but playing for the Patriots on Thursday did not necessarily equate to playing for the Patriots come Monday.

The Giants, by the way, had many of their starters in from the beginning, as quarterback Eli Manning played three series, capping the last one with a 3-yard TD toss to Hakeem Nicks, who beat rookie cornerback Logan Ryan.

Ryan’s spot is all but guaranteed. Wilson’s career accolades would say the same, as they would for Washington and others.

As we’ve learned, though, an NFL roster spot is not a lifetime achievement award.

Pooch punts

Rookie wide receiver Josh Boyce, a fourth-round pick out of TCU, had a stellar first half. He took an end-around 18 yards in the first quarter to bring the crowd to its feet. In the second quarter, he was on the receiving end of arguably the prettiest throw of Mallett’s pro career. The 40-yard connection between Mallett and Boyce came on the heels of Washington’s 43-yard return. …

Page 3 of 3 - Undrafted rookie running back George Winn ran 14 times for 54 yards, including a 1-yard TD jaunt in the second quarter. …

Patriots chairman/CEO Robert Kraft had Tiger Woods as his guest both on the field prior to the game Thursday night. Woods is in town for this weekend’s Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Norton.

Tim Whelan Jr. can be reached at 508-626-4402. Follow him on Twitter @thattimwhelan.